Background

Commuting routes with natural features could promote walking or cycling for commuting. Commuting through natural environments (NE) could have mental health benefits as exposure to NE can reduce stress and improve mental health, but there is little evidence. This study evaluates the association between NE and commuting, whether active or not, and the association between commuting (through NE), whether active or not, and mental health. We also evaluate the moderating effect of NE quality on the association between NE commuting and mental health.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was based on adult respondents (n = 3599) of the Positive Health Effects of the Natural Outdoor Environment in Typical Populations in Different Regions in Europe (PHENOTYPE) project. Data were collected in four European cities in Spain, the Netherlands, Lithuania and the United Kingdom. Data on commuting behavior (active commuting at least one day/week, daily NE commuting) and mental health were collected with questionnaires. Associations were estimated with multilevel analyses including random intercepts at city- and neighborhood level.

Results

Adjusted multilevel analyses showed that daily NE commuters were more often active commuters (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.19, 1.70). There was no association between active commuting and mental health, but daily NE commuters had on average a 2.74 (95% CI 1.66, 3.82) point higher mental health score than those not commuting through NE. The association with mental health was stronger among active commuters (4.03, 95% CI 2.13, 5.94) compared to non-active commuters (2.21; 95% CI 0.90, 3.51) when daily commuting through NE, but NE quality did not have a moderating effect.

Conclusions

Daily NE commuting was associated with better mental health, especially for active commuters. Daily NE commuters were likely to be active commuters. Active commuting itself was not associated with mental health. These findings suggest that cities should invest in commuting routes with nature for cycling and walking.

中文翻译：

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通过自然环境的主动通勤与更好的心理健康相关：PHENOTYPE项目的结果

背景

具有自然特征的通勤路线可以促进步行或骑车出行。通过自然环境（NE）通勤可能会带来心理健康益处，因为暴露于NE可以减轻压力并改善心理健康，但没有证据。这项研究评估了NE和通勤之间的关联，无论是否活跃，以及通勤（通过NE）是否活跃和通勤与心理健康之间的关联。我们还评估了NE质量对NE通勤与心理健康之间的关联的调节作用。

方法

这项横断面研究基于成年受访者（n = 3599）对欧洲不同地区典型人群中自然户外环境的积极健康影响（PHENOTYPE）项目。在西班牙，荷兰，立陶宛和英国的四个欧洲城市收集了数据。用问卷收集有关通勤行为（每天至少每周一天主动通勤，每天NE通勤）和心理健康的数据。关联性是通过多级分析进行估计的，包括在城市和社区一级的随机截距。

结果

调整后的多层次分析表明，每天的NE通勤者更经常是活跃通勤者（OR 1.42； 95％CI 1.19，1.70）。主动通勤与心理健康之间没有关联，但是每天的NE通勤者比不通过NE通勤的人平均心理健康得分高2.74（95％CI 1.66，3.82）点。每天通过NE上下班的通勤者之间的心理健康联系（4.03，95％CI 2.13，5.94）比非活动通勤者（2.21; 95％CI 0.90，3.51）要强，但NE的质量没有下降影响。

结论

每天的NE通勤与更好的心理健康有关，特别是对于活跃的通勤者。每日NE通勤者很可能是活跃通勤者。主动通勤本身与心理健康无关。这些发现表明，城市应该投资与大自然通勤的路线来骑自行车和步行。